THREE RIVERS – The city council gave tentative approval Monday night to sell its treated wastewater.

Pending a check by City Attorney Harry Schultz on how much water, if any, the city is required to put back in the Nueces River, the city has agreed to sell treated wastewater to TD Water Resource Management, LLC.

City Administrator Rosie Forehand said the agreement calls for the city to receive an upfront payment of $6,700 from TD, and then $1.67 for every thousand gallons the company buys.

Reagan Scott, representing TD, said the company has reached similar agreements with other cities, including Beeville and Karnes City.

The target customers, at least to start, are companies that need water to hydraulically fracture oil and gas wells, Scott said.

“That’s obviously the hot market right now,” he said.

The council also approved a new business. Angie Ponce plans to open a pet grooming business in a portable building behind her home on Thornton Street.

The council also gave approval to two landowners putting in RVs on their property, but on the condition that no outside water be brought in.

The city’s moratorium on new water hookups continues, but landowners Carlos Riojas and Charlie Stroleny said they wanted to start the permit process so that when the ban on new hookups is lifted, they are ready to go.

Stroleny did question why a new business would be allowed, but not an RV.

The council did not respond.

Mayor Pro-Tem Sam Garcia presided over the meeting in Mayor James Liska’s absence.